[ronk455]

I am looking for some help. My 62 Tempest is having shifting issues. I have owned the car for 2 years now. It really has only been driven around my neighborhood. Now I am trying to get it travel worthy. It will shift fine when cold around the block. Once it warms up and I get out on the road is another story. First, it will not shift into second gear. If I get lucky and it goes into second, it will downshift into first on its own.

Things I have done so far:
Checked fluid level, it was ok.
Checked and adjusted TV cable.
Removed pan, checked screen.
Removed valve body, removed and checked valves and springs in valve body.
Removed and checked governor.
Checked vacuum modulator valve. Modulator holds vacuum with Mity-vac.
I have ordered a new vacuum modulator from Fatsco. It arrived today. Don't have a good feeling this is going to change anything.
Looking at the service manual, it appears that I need to do the checks on the pressures. Any ideas on where to get a gauge to check these?

I have a couple of car shows coming up that I would like to attend. Looking for some helpful ideas.

Thanks
Ron

[GaryK]

Bringing this back to the top!

I had the same problem with my transmission and after trying a few things listed in Ron's post that didn't help, I swapped it out with a working low mileage transaxle I got from a friend for free.

Can someone here give Ron some advice?

Thanks,
Gary

[c5farmer]

Ron, I haven't worked on the Tempest transmission, but your symptoms sound like the lip seal is bad in the high gear clutch. When the trans is cold, the fluid has more viscosity and can cause the clutch to lock up and shift. When the fluid gets hot and thins, it seeps past the cracked seal and can't lock up the clutch to hold the shift. At least that is what happens in a TH350 automatic tranny. The seal has a small lip around it that becomes brittle with age and seperates from the seal's main body. The only fix is disassembly and overhaul of the transmission. Just my two cents, Jerry

[mechanickeith]

That may verywell be thw cause. I spoke today with a couple of "Old School" powerglide guy's. Both said the same thing. Shifte fine while cold & doesnt when hot,,,oil bypassing the drive clutch piston. This does happen on occasion, especially with transmissions that have sat for a long time & then put back in service. Usually a reseal & adjustment will fix the issue according to the PG gurus.

[ronk455]

First of all, thanks to those who have replied. I have talked to and emailed several people from the board. I have had many different guesses on what could possibly fix the issues.

I ended up replacing the vacuum modulator. This did not fix the issue. I found out from talking to a transmission shop here locally. The modulator only controls the firmness of the shift. Not the timing of the shift. This is the oldest transmission shop in the area. He also suggested the lip seal on the high gear drum. Of course this was a guess, he wanted to go for a ride to get a better feel for what was happening.

The one thing I had noticed when having the valve body apart. The detent valve had an area where it looked like it had gotten jammed in the bore. It was kinda egg shaped on the side. When I had put it back together, I had polished the area. It then slid in and out fine. It still bothered me though in the back of my mind, that this could be the problem. I then called Fatsco Transmission in NJ (where I ordered the modulator from). Spoke with them about it. They said the valve body could be the problem, or maybe the governor. They both of these in stock (used). I ordered them last Tues and they arrived on Thurs. Went ahead and installed on Thurs evening. Filled fluid and went for a drive.

I am happy to say that the trans no longer drops into low by itself. The one thing I am working on now, is the timing of the upshift and downshift. At part throttle, it will upshift into second quickly. Also when coming to a stop, it is very late that it downshifts. I want to check the pressure adjustments of the front pump and throttle valves now. I am hoping since it is a different valve body, these may need adjusted. At least I am now able to drive the car.

On Saturday I drove the car to its first official cruise in. Probably put about 50 miles on it to the cruise, then to my brothers B-day party. I am still sometimes shifting into low manually when coming to a stop sign or light. I am still not real clear on the adjustment of the throttle valve cable. At least I am making progress.

Ron

[mechanickeith]

So,,,dont know if it was the governor or valvebody that fix'd it?? quick upshifts at part throttle could be the TV cable adjustment.

[GaryK]

Ron,
As you know Ken Freeman thought all along the shift problem was in the valve body. You could've been right about it having something to do with the detent valve. I replaced the govenor on mine and it did not fix my shifting problem so I am leaning towards it being in the valve body that fixed yours.

When I get around to it, I will take mine to Fatsco and have them look at it.

Happy to hear you are on the road and cruising again!

You and Keith are correct, the TV cable should correct that quick up shifting.

Gary

[azkeebler]

TV adjustment is super easy on '62's.

Disconnect at the carb, with carb at full throttle, (engine off of course), pull on the tv cable past the first point of resistance(kickdown) until it stops again. At this point, the cable should just slip onto the pin on the carb. Adjust cable until it does so.

[62tempestred]

Does anyone know where to find a replacement TV Cable for a 62?